Load dependent damper for a vehicle suspension system

Abstract

A valve assembly includes a valve body defining an inner volume, a flow controller positioned within the inner volume, a plug positioned within the inner volume, and a biasing element. The plug is spaced from the flow controller such that an intermediate chamber is defined between the plug and the flow controller. The biasing element is positioned in the intermediate chamber between the plug and the flow controller. The plug is repositionable within the inner volume. As the plug moves within the inner volume, the plug interacts with the biasing element such that the biasing element provides a biasing force to the flow controller.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A valve assembly for a vehicle suspension system, the valve assembly comprising:
 a valve body defining an inner volume; 
 a flow controller positioned within the inner volume; 
 a plug positioned within the inner volume, wherein the plug is spaced from the flow controller such that an intermediate chamber is defined between the plug and the flow controller; and 
 a biasing element positioned in the intermediate chamber between the plug and the flow controller; 
 wherein, the plug is repositionable within the inner volume and as the plug moves within the inner volume, the plug interacts with the biasing element such that the biasing element provides a biasing force to the flow controller; and 
 wherein the flow controller and the plug are not coaxially aligned. 
 
     
     
       2. The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element includes gas. 
     
     
       3. The valve assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the gas within the intermediate chamber has a pressure between about 200 psi and 300 psi. 
     
     
       4. The valve assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a port coupled to the intermediate chamber, the port configured to facilitate supplying the intermediate chamber with the gas. 
     
     
       5. The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element includes a spring. 
     
     
       6. The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element includes at least one of gas or a spring. 
     
     
       7. The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a flow rate of a fluid through the flow controller varies based on the biasing force. 
     
     
       8. The valve assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the biasing force repositions the flow controller within the inner volume. 
     
     
       9. The valve assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the flow controller defines a passage, and wherein a size of the passage and, therefore, the flow rate of the fluid through the passage varies based on the biasing force. 
     
     
       10. The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plug separates the intermediate chamber from a spring chamber, and wherein a position of the plug is repositionable based on a pressure within the spring chamber. 
     
     
       11. The valve assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a port coupled to the spring chamber, the port configured to facilitate supplying the spring chamber with pressurized gas. 
     
     
       12. A valve assembly for a vehicle suspension system, the valve assembly comprising:
 a valve body defining an inner volume; 
 a flow controller positioned within the inner volume; and 
 a plug repositionable within the inner volume; 
 wherein the plug is spaced from the flow controller such that an intermediate chamber is defined between the plug and the flow controller; 
 wherein the intermediate chamber is filled with a gas; 
 wherein, as the plug moves within the inner volume, the plug interacts with the gas such that the gas provides a biasing force to the flow controller; 
 wherein a flow rate of a fluid through the flow controller varies based on the biasing force; 
 wherein the plug separates the intermediate chamber from a spring chamber; and 
 wherein a position of the plug is repositionable based on a pressure within the spring chamber. 
 
     
     
       13. The valve assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the gas within the intermediate chamber has a pressure between about 200 psi and 300 psi. 
     
     
       14. The valve assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a port coupled to the intermediate chamber, the port configured to facilitate supplying the intermediate chamber with the gas. 
     
     
       15. The valve assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the flow controller defines a passage, and wherein a size of the passage and, therefore, the flow rate of the fluid through the passage varies based on the biasing force. 
     
     
       16. The valve assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a port coupled to the spring chamber, the port configured to facilitate supplying the spring chamber with pressurized gas. 
     
     
       17. A valve assembly for a vehicle suspension system, the valve assembly comprising:
 a valve body defining an inner volume; 
 a flow controller positioned within the inner volume; and 
 a plug repositionable within the inner volume; 
 wherein the plug is spaced from the flow controller such that an intermediate chamber is defined between the plug and the flow controller; 
 wherein the intermediate chamber is filled with a gas; 
 wherein, as the plug moves within the inner volume, the plug interacts with the gas such that the gas provides a biasing force to the flow controller; 
 wherein a flow rate of a fluid through the flow controller varies based on the biasing force; and 
 wherein the flow controller and the plug are not coaxially aligned. 
 
     
     
       18. A valve assembly for a vehicle suspension system, the valve assembly comprising:
 a valve body; 
 a flow controller positioned within the valve body; 
 a plug positioned within the valve body; and 
 a gas positioned within the valve body, between the plug and the flow controller; 
 wherein the flow controller and the plug are not coaxially aligned.